Portable food cabinet



May 11, 1948. E. BRUBAKER PORTABLE FOOD CABINET Filed Nov. 1, 1944 INVENTOR. Imam, Ezzvom 32227547132 ATTORZVEY Patented May 11,1948

1 Claim.

This invention relates to suitcases or the like in general, and more particularly to cases adapted to carry a plurality of articles of a varied assortment, and aims to provide a suitcase having a shelf-like compartmented inner frame or cabinet equipped with doors on both sides and spaced laterally and at the top from the suitcase walls, the case also being equipped with hinged side walls to convert the same into doors.

The case of this invention would be particularly adaptable and suitable to people who live in furnished rooms or hotels.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein characters of reference refer to like-numbered parts in the description. It is to be understood that the drawings are intended for the purpose of illustration only, and that it is neither desired nor intended to limit the invention in any manner to the specific details of construction shown excepting insofar as they may be deemed essential to the invention.

Referring briefly to the drawings, I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the suitcase with the doors partly open to expose the interior.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the case with the doors open.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3---3 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral It! indicates the central portion or frame of the suitcase and comprises the top panel I I provided with the handle l2, the side panels l3 and I4, and the bottom panel 15. Front and rear covers or doors I! and I6, respectively, having inwardly turned flanges or overlaps I8, are hinged at 20 and I9, respectively, to the bottom panel l5. The usual strap ends are shown at 2 I, and they serve in the common manner to strap the case in closed condition.

Within the frame II), a shelf-like compartmented inner frame 22 having the top panel 24, the bottom panel '23, and the side panels 25 and 26, and of the same depth as the frame I0, is mounted within the latter by securing the bottom panel 23 against the bottom panel l of the frame I. Shelves 2! and 28 are mounted between the side panels 25 and 26; partitions 29 are provided between the panel 23 and the shelf 2'1; partitions 30are provided between the shelves 2'! and 28; and partitions 3| are likewise provided between the shelf 28 and the top panel 24. In the compartment 32 between the paritions 3! a drawer 33, having a handle 34, is mounted.

The frame 22 is open on both sides, and is provided on both sides with doors 36 and 31, respectively, which are hinged at the bottom to the bottom panel 23 of the frame 22. Eyelets or loops 38 and 39 are provided on the top panel 24 adapted to be engaged by hooks 40 and 4| on the doors 36 and 31, respectively, to hold closed these doors.

The suitcase is adapted to contain and carry various items of food and the equipment; required for preparing and preserving food, and may be conveniently used by persons living in a furnished room or a hotel who may wish to eat something between mealtimes, and the suitcase may be used to provide a sanitary and presentable food container. The compartments between the shelf 21 and the bottom panel 23 would conveniently hold Sterno or canned heat, a collapsible Sterno stove, matches, waxed paper, etc. The middle compartments could hold soda crackers, cheese, etc; the drawer 33 could hold Dry Ice, frozen fruit, or articles wrapped in wax paper such as butter and cured meat. The above are of course only by way of example.

The boundary walls of the frame 22, excepting for the bottom panel 23, are, as is apparent, spaced from the adjacent walls or panels of the outer frame Hi. This feature of construction permits of free circulation of air between the two frames and also provides a heat insulation space between the frames.

To use the suitcase, one or both sets of doors on each side are opened down to horizontal position with the frame ll] standing upright, as shown. The upper surface of the door 35 or 31 then provides a practical table-like area on which to serve the food, and the area of the upper surface of the door ll, Fig. 3, surrounding three sides of the door 36, provides a walled space for setting articles of small size and particularly any which might be in danger of rolling off.

Obviously, modifications in form and structure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

A portable case for carrying food comprising an outer frame, rectangular in shape, and having its opposite sides open, an inner frame within the outer frame and contiguous to the bottom of the outer frame, said inner frame being of less width and height than the outer frame, thereby forming an inverted U-shaped air passage between both frames for the circulation of air, closures for the inner frame, said closures being hingedly connected to the bottom of the outer frame and REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent:

Number Number 4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Krick Sept. 12, 1893 Gilbert May 14, 1907 Hopwood May 15, 1917 Sullivan Dec. 23, 1919 Hart Dec. 5, 1922 Johnson Jan. 20, 1931 Lennon et a1 Apr. 21, 1931 Christoffersen Apr. 26, 1938 Haaker Mar. 25, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 15, 1931 

